Today, President Lennart Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri finished their state visit to the Czech Republic that took place by invitation of the President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel. The visit was successful and the President hopes that the visit, which attracted a lot of attention, will contribute to the development of the economic relationships between the two countries, which in recent years have been rather inactive when compared to the political and defence relationships.

Today, President Meri and the Estonian delegation visited Nižbor, where they went to the traditional Czech glass factory Antonin Rückl and sons. The owner of the factory Jiři Rückl and director of the factory Petr Prokop introduced the famous crystal, and spoke about how the pre-war owners of the glass factory have purchased the nationalised factory back from the state.

Today afternoon, President Meri and Mrs. Helle Meri visited also the Estonian Embassy in Prague where they met with the Estonians who live and study in Prague. Schoolchildren from Kuressaare, who were on an excursion to Prague, also greeted the President of Estonia by the embassy in the centre of the city.

The President and Mrs. Helle Meri, and the accompanying delegation will return to Tallinn tonight by a special plane.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 1, 2000

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